Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I'm a bad blogger. I've neglected this blog and the family blog for too long... hopefully, that will change soon.

What have I been up to? ...

Well.... I went back to work! It's been almost two years since I left my last job, and now I'm back doing the same thing. So for the moment, I have to really manage my time wisely to keep things running smoothly around here.... time is limited.

oh.... it's only a part-time job, and I still have time to do things that I love to do like quilting and blogging .... except only with less time now.

I had several chances during the week to write something up in this blog, but I chose not to. I know... I'm a bad blogger. :-(

You see... when time is limited and the choice is computer or sewing machine.... my sewing machine won! ;-)

It's a good thing that I picked the sewing machine because I am done with all swap projects. The Secret Santa Christmas Swap is completed. Yeah! Can't share with you what it is yet... it's a secret. ;-)

However, I can share with you my Stitchers Angel project. Tomorrow is the deadline for sending out all of the projects. Talk about cutting it real close, I barely finished with the this project for my partner today.

I couldn't resisted ... I had to make a Stitching Angel. I hope my partner will like her.

Here she is enjoying the sunshine and roses.

The pattern is in this book "Gift" by Rosalie Quinlan. For fun and a little of sparkle, I added beads to the wings and changed the word to "stitching" on the heart.

And this is everything that I'm sending to my Stitching partner... the armchair caddy, bag, pincushion, stitching angel, chocolate, and a California thimble.It may still be early for some people, but for me, Christmas is right around the corner. So here is a Christmas gift in progress. It's a pattern called Nifty Thrifty in Bonnie's new book, Scraps and Shirttails.

The little furry animals were asleep when I spread out the quilt top on the floor for the pic, but as soon as that camera click, they came running and wanted their pix taken. lol ... silly little doxies!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

OK.... you've probably already seen this 'cause I'm usually behind with this kind of thing, but Lizzy Anne at Pigtails and Snails blog is having a QUILT GIVEAWAY! Yes! She is giving away a beautiful quilt! Be quick though.... the giveaway ends on Friday the 17th at 7pm MST.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Oops! In my last post, I mentioned that the SSCS is due on Nov. 1, but don't panic! The mailing date is from Nov. 10th to Nov. 25th. Thanks to Julie for straighten me out on that one. Now, I can relax a little bit.

Awhile ago, Julie and Peg awarded me with this award. Sorry it's taken me so long to post this; I really appreciated that you thought of me. The rule said that I have to pick 5 other bloggers to pass this award onto, but I could not decided which blogs to pick. So I have decided to give it to everyone on my favorite list. If I visited your blog and commented, then this award is for you 'cause I love you all. Each one has inspired me one way or another. :-)

My BIL and his wife, Annette, are expecting their first baby. Yesterday was the baby shower. I gave them the Pink Lemonade quilt along with Miss Milly... because.... IT'S A GIRL!!! They are expecting a Christmas baby... her due date is Dec.25th! Sorry the pix is so blurry...

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Well, so much for cool Fall weather. The last couple days had been too hot here in southern CA. When I picked up the kiddos from school yesterday, my car registered the outside temperature to be at 100 degrees. It is another warm day today, then it will cool down by the weekend in the low 70s... yeah... lol I sounded like a weatherman don't I?

My DD, Mandy, didn't have class till evening, so we went out to JoAnn's to get some ideas for Halloween costumes. We didn't stayed too long (had to pick up kiddos) and decided to come back this weekend for the Columbus Day sales. But.... I did managed to find a book on Mariner's Compass by Judy Mathieson.... used my 40% off coupon. :-)

Then, when we got home.... look what is in the mail... Bonnie Hunter's new book, Scraps & Shirtails: Reuse, Re-Purpose, Recycle! The Art of Quilting Green ... :-D

Two wonderful books to stir and to fill my brain with more wonderful quilts to make.

Also, I received a postcard from Brigitte yesterday but forgot to share ... thanking me for the Crazy BAg from Linda's Bag Swap.

Wow! What a great quilt and a great idea to print the photo onto postcard cardstock!

Things that I worked on today ....

Secret Santa Swap -

Since it a secret, I very well can't show you my project... but the project came from this magazine. Half-way done with this one... I really need to get a move on with this project. Deadline is November 1??

The Center Pinwheel -

Not something that I did today, but I worked on this for the last few days. It's the Center Pinwheel of Pinwheels and Posies BOM. This block is the last block of the series that was released last month. For this month, it's time to put everything together. I'm hoping to find sometimes this weekend to do that.

Calico Garden

I was distracted last night so only quilted one 9-patch. I'm hoping to get more done tonight. With that in mind, I'll end this post here.

Thank you everyone for the lovely comments on my CG. I'm putting this quilt on top of the list to get it done.... sew I must go off and quilt, quilt, quilt. :D

Monday, October 6, 2008

Usually, I don't watch a whole lot of TV, but when I do, I like to have some kinds of handwork on hands to work on. Well, I could hand piece those Dear Jane blocks that I haven't worked on forever ... which, incidentally, I am wayyyy behind than the rest of the DJ group.

Likewise, there is another project that I haven't touched forever.... my Calico Garden quilt. I am in the process of hand quilting this crib sized quilt. My goal at the beginning of the year was to finish this quilt, and here we are.... it's October.... I'm still not done. :-(

The pattern came from this book.... Enduring Grace, Quilts from the Shelburne Museum Collection. Calico Garden was made by Florence Peto in 1952.

My CG quilt top is hand appliqued and hand pieced. The appliqued blocks are tiny, 3" finished. The nine patches also finished at 3".

The quilt was started in October 2004; it took me a whole year to complete the top (see below). Then, it took me almost another year to work up the nerves to get it basted and started the quilting.

Unfortunately, I hurt my hand shortly after that, and the quilt ended up on the shelf.

I am determined to get this quilt done ... hopefully, by the end of this year or beginning of next year. Please do feel free to cheer me on, I think I need it. lol

By the way, I should mentioned that there is A LOT of quilting that goes on in this quilt. I have quilted around each appliques and the broderie persed swags. There are still the 1/2" cross hatchings in the background and 9-patches to do. But.... OY VEY.... there are way too many seams to quilt through.

While watching Dancing With the Stars tonight, I quilted through 5 nine-patches. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night Result show and getting a few more patches done. :-)

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Finally, there is a change in the weather! It feels like fall... if there's such thing here in California.

The last two evenings had been so cool that John and I actually got cold in the middle of the night. The whole house fan that John added at the beginning of summer is working like a charm.

When it's cold outside, then it's soup time! My family loves soup, and I love making soup for them.

When Sweetie Pie and I were at Sam's Club on Saturday, they had those taste stations as usual. At one of the station, they were passing out samples of soup and sandwich along with the recipes. Both of the soup (Sausage and Ravioli) and the sandwich (Grilled Panini) were delicious! Sweetie Pie even begged for a second sample. Of course, I picked up the ingredients to make them both.

Click on the pix to get the larger size if you like to see the recipes....

I made them tonight for dinner..... YUMMMMY!

Both of the recipes were a big hit with my family. They were real simple and quick to make. I forgot to buy the spinach for the soup, so I used extra pieces of asparagus from the sandwich instead.

Although our sandwiches don't look as pretty as in the recipe.... gotta remember not to walk away from the grill when grilling bread.... it's still yummy. :-)

Friday, October 3, 2008

My mom was released from the hospital yesterday, and my sister and Dad brought her home. I just got off the phone with her. Mom is doing much better, in good spirit, and so happy to be home among her similar surroundings.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

I am home today with not much plans.... oh, there are a dozen of things that need my attentions like house cleaning, laundry, walk the dogs, etc... but I'm ignoring them all! I need to go grocery shopping also 'cause there are no food in the house, but I'm not doing that either! It's Friday... so I will let John be in charge of dinner..... pizza or Panda Express???? :-D

Soooo WHAT am I doing today.....

SEWING.......

.... got an early start this morning right after the kiddos went off to school.

Prepped and sewed some dolly body parts.... these will get turn inside out and stuff when I have more patience....